The share of people over 65 who use technology has grown over the past ten years (2024)
Younger adults are often more likely than their eldersformer adoptersof innovations, and this has been true for many digital technologies since the founding of the Pew Research Centerdocumenttheir use. There are still notable differences in technology use between American adults under 30 and 65 and older. But on several fronts, adoption of key technologies among people in the oldest age group has grown significantly since about a decade ago, and the gap between the oldest and youngest adults has narrowed, according to a new analysis of a 2021 Center survey executed. .
The survey found that 96% of people aged 18 to 29 own a smartphone, compared to 61% of people aged 65 and over, a difference of 35 percentage points. However, this gap has narrowed from 53 points in 2012. The survey also found that 95% of 30 to 49 year olds said they would own a smartphone in 2021, and 83% of 50 to 64 year olds said the same .
The Pew Research Center has a history of studying digital technology adoption. For the new material in this report, the center surveyed 1,502 U.S. adults via cell phone and landline from January 25 to February 8, 2021. The survey was conducted by interviewers led by Abt Associates and is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, education and other categories. Here isthe questions usedfor this report, along with its responses and methodology.
Similarly, in the latest survey, those over 65 were also the least likely to say they use social media such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. About 45% reported using social media, compared to 84% of people aged 18 to 29 and 81% of people aged 30 to 49. Meanwhile, social media presence among Americans 65 and older has increased roughly fourfold since 2010, while use among the youngest adults has remained relatively constant over that period. Since 2010, the difference between adults under 30 and adults 65 and older has decreased from 71 points to 39 points.
Owning tablet computers is a slightly different situation. Those between the ages of 30 and 49 were the most likely to own one in 2021. About six in ten (61%) said they currently own a tablet. That compares with 53% of 50-64 year olds who have a tablet, 46% of 18-29 year olds and 44% of 65 year olds and older.
When it comes to internet use, almost all adults between the ages of 18 and 29 say they use the internet (99%). A similar percentage of 30 to 49 year olds (98%) say the same. And 96% of 50 to 64 year olds use the Internet, compared to 75% of those over 65 who report being Internet users. In 2000, the difference between the oldest and youngest groups of adults in Internet use was 56 percentage points; it is now 24 points. There are also differences between older adults and some of their younger counterparts when it comes to home broadband: 64% of people aged 65 and over now have such connections, compared to 86% of people aged 30 to 49 and 79% of people aged 50 to 64. . (The proportion of adults under 30 who have broadband at home – 70% – is statistically similar to that of adults aged 65 and over).
There are notable differences between age groups when measuring the frequency of Internet use. About 48% of people aged 18 to 29 said they were online “almost all the time,” compared to 22% of people aged 50 to 64 and 8% of people aged 65 and over.
Among the websites and apps specifically asked about in the survey,YouTube topper listenin the share of adults using it, and the platform has gained popularity among older adults. From 2019 to 2021, the share of Americans aged 50 to 64 who say they have ever used YouTube increased from 70% to 83%. Among people over 65, YouTube use rose from 38% to 49%, a gain of 13 and 11 points respectively. In contrast, the share of those using YouTube has remained fairly stable within the younger age groups over the same period, with a large majority saying they use the platform.
Note: Here it isthe questions usedfor this report, along with its responses and methodology.
subjects
adoption of technologySocial mediaSmartphones
Michelle Faveriois a research analyst focusing on Internet and technology research at the Pew Research Center.
About 75% of adults 65 and older are internet users, up from just 19% in 2000, and more than half of people 65 and older (61%) are now smartphone owners, according to the Pew Research Center.
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In the most recent survey available, Pew Research Center found 87% of adults ages 50 to 64 are online, compared with 82% of those ages 65 to 69 and 75% of those ages 70–74, with those ages 80+ at 44%.
A study by Age UK found almost half (46%) of people aged 65 or over were unable to navigate the internet "safely" and complete the most fundamental online tasks. The study found 23% could not turn on a device and enter login information as required, while 28% were unable to find and open different applications.
The number of older adults who own a smartphone has risen dramatically from 18% in 2013 to 83% (age 50–64) and 61% (age 65+) in 2021 [1]. An even larger portion of older adults own a laptop or computer (90%) and use the internet [2].
According to a Pew Research Center survey, 7% of U.S. adults say they do not use the internet. The most common demographic variable linked to non-internet users is age; older Americans are the least likely group to go online.
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According to 2022 data, nearly 58 million adults ages 65 and older live in the U.S., accounting for about 17.3% of the nation's population. By 2040, that proportion is projected to grow to 22%.
It has changed the way we access resources. It has also changed the way we learn new things. Nowadays, people tend to rely on technology for everything. Whenever we need to contact someone, we can just text that person instantly.
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Limited Dexterity. Due to arthritis, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions, it can be difficult for seniors to perform the touchscreen gestures needed to navigate a lot of newer technology. Try to address this problem by selecting devices that are easier to control.
While the cost aspect declines with age, it increases for the lack of technological knowledge aspect. Over 60 percent of people between 55 and 64 years state that costs is a barrier, whereas nearly half of those over 80 years state that a lack of knowledge is a barrier.
34% (around 2 million) people aged 75 & over do not use the internet1 • 10% (around 0.7 million) people aged 65 to 74 do not use the internet. Not everyone who gets online, stays online. As of 2022, almost 500,000 people aged 65 & over had used the internet in the past, but not recently.
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